Little battler Finley Ingles is recovering after a nine-hour op to shrink his brain tumour.

And confirming her son is out of surgery, his mum Kara called the Marton youngster an “absolute superhero”.

It is now believed the five-year-old’s brain tumour has been shrunk to a tenth of its original size.

Finley Ingles in Texas awaiting his surgery (Image: facebook)

Finley underwent the operation in Texas on Friday, February 17 after a hugely successful fundraising campaign and is now up and talking to nursing staff at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.

Mum Kara Ingles wrote on social media after the op: “Thank you so much for all the lovely messages of support yesterday for Finley, he was an absolute superhero and after nine hours of surgery Dr Curry was able to ablate 90% of Finley’s tumour.

“Finley is now in recovery and has had a really comfortable night and is sat up talking to the nurses!

Finley Ingles in Texas

“Only time will tell now if it’s been the success we are all hoping for! Thank you all again for your love and support for Finley!”

Finley was diagnosed with a Hypothalamic Harmatoma, an extremely rare brain tumour in April, 2013.

Because the tumour was so entwined with his brain matter, it could not be removed by surgery - meaning he had up to 10 seizures a day.

Finley Ingles and his mum Kara

With his seizures increasing in frequency and intensity, Finley’s only chance for a normal life was to undergo Laser Ablation Surgery - a £200,000 procedure only performed in the USA.

Kara and partner Stephen fundraised tirelessly and hit their target in November last year.

Yesterday Finley went into theatre at 12 noon. The operation was expected to last seven hours.